Monthly Archives: February 2015

Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury: Always great for a shot of artistic adrenalin: “So I collected comics, fell in love with carnivals and World’s Fairs and began to write. And what, you ask, does writing teach … Continue reading →

It was a frosty evening outside, but there was plenty of heat and light at a freewheeling performance and audience give-back by poet and actor reg e gaines. Hearing reg isn’t just inspiring, it’s energizing: words and ideas tumble around … Continue reading →

As more and more authors opt for the self-publishing path to sharing their fiction and nonfiction, more resources and more recognition are giving this choice ever-greater credibility. This year, Writer’s Digest, is presenting its 23rd Annual Self-Published Book Awards, one … Continue reading →

When J.K. Rowling was writing her now-legendary Harry Potter series, one of the tools she used at some point was a version of storyboarding: She mapped out her chapter outlines and plot points using vertical columns on a sheet of … Continue reading →

By some strange accident of fate, David, Alex and I found ourselves high above Manhattan in a small jazz club that looked out over sparkling lights and the city on a frosty winter’s eve. We were there to hear a … Continue reading →

In honor of Washington’s birthday, also my wonderful husband David’s birthday, here are some words of wisdom to guide us: “It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” “It is better to be alone than in bad … Continue reading →

With more snow predicted in my corner of the world, I thought I’d bring us all a bit of blue sky and sunshine: Summer Sun Robert Louis Stevenson Great is the sun, and wide he goes Through empty heaven with … Continue reading →